Winston Harrison

Treatment of Experimental Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis Endophthalmitis with intravitreal Vancomycin

Endophthalmitis remains a dreaded complication of intraocular surgery and penetrating eye trauma. Subconjunctival, topical, and systemic antibiotics have been largely ineffective in the treatment of endophthalmitis, whereas intravitreal antibiotics have proved efficacious. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis has become an important pathogen in many infections, including endophthalmitis. Toxicity, clearance, and efficacy of intravitreal vancomycin were evaluated in the treatment of experimental methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis endophthalmitis. No evidence of retinal toxicity was found and therapeutic levels were demonstrated six days after injection. The treated rabbit eyes showed a marked beneficial effect when compared to the untreated eyes. If experience confirms the safety of intravitreal vancomycin in human eyes, vancomycin should be considered the drug of choice for methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis endophthalmitis.

Success of the Fasanella-Servat Operation Independent of Müller's Smooth Muscle Excision

In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism whereby the Fasanella-Servat operation corrects ptosis, the authors examined the histopathologic features of 40 consecutive surgical specimens from 37 patients. Because all specimens contained tarsus, this tissue was graded into two groups according to vertical height: (1) minimal (30%) and (2) moderate (70%). Müllers smooth muscle was graded into four groups: (1) absent to negligible (42.5%); (2) minimal (45%); (3) moderate (10%); and (4) large (2.5%). Levator aponeurosis was absent, and conjunctive was present, in all resections. Accessory lacrimal gland tissue was present in 42.5% of cases and did not cause decreased tear production. Although 87.5% of cases had absent to minimal smooth muscle resections, these patients had equally successful results in comparison to patients with moderate to large amounts of smooth muscle resections. Based on these data, the authors have concluded that the effectiveness of the Fasanella-Servat operation does not depend on a Müllerectomy, but instead is probably due to a combination of other factors: (1) a vertical posterior lamellar shortening; (2) secondary contractile cicatrization of the wound; and (3) plication or advancement of the Müllers smooth muscle-levator aponeurosis complex on the tarsus.

Itraconazole in the treatment of orbital aspergillosis

BACKGROUND Sino-orbital aspergillosis is typically treated with surgical debridement and intravenous amphotericin B. Some authors have advocated intraorbital irrigation or injection of amphotericin B in specific cases. METHODS An immunocompetent patient with recurrent sino-orbital aspergillosis is presented. After failing two attempts at traditional therapeutic modalities, treatment with oral itraconazole was initiated. RESULTS The patient has had resolution of her sino-orbital disease without recurrence at 10 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION In immunocompetent patients with orbital aspergillosis, itraconazole should be considered as a treatment option in patients who have recurrent or recalcitrant disease, or in those who cannot tolerate amphotericin B.

Human Sympathetic Ophthalmia

A case of human sympathetic ophthalmia, enucleated after surgical trauma, was studied by means of hybridoma-derived monoclonal antibodies, histochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. The choroidal infiltrate was composed predominantly of T-lymphocytes of the suppressor/cytotoxic subset (OKT8+); only 5% of the cells were immunoglobulin-producing B-lymphocytes (kappa or lambda light chain positive), thereby explaining the well-known paucity of plasma cells in the infiltrate. The epithelioid cells and phagocytic histiocytes in the choroid were la+ and OKM1+, antigenic determinants specific for bone marrow-derived monocytes, and their cytoplasms exhibited histochemical reactivity for alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and lysozyme. Ultrastructurally, the choroidal epithelioid cells contained single melanin granules in the cytoplasm, but these were membrane-bound and frequently associated with lysosomal material, features militating against these cells being transformed choroidal melanocytes. By means of immunologic and ultrastructural analysis, the Dalen-Fuchs nodules were found to be composed of a mixture of histiocytes (la+ and OKM1+) and depigmented retinal pigment epithelial cells (la- and OKM1-); the latter cells focally formed desmosomes and displayed inclusions of lipofuscin. Scattered within the Dalen-Fuchs nodules were small numbers of T-lymphocytes of the suppressor/cytotoxic subset. We have concluded that the uveitis and retinal pigment epithelial changes are mediated by a T-cell, delayed hypersensitivity pathogenetic mechanism (cell-mediated immunity), possibly directed at surface membrane antigens that may be shared by photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelial cells, and choroidal melanocytes.

Syringocystadenoma Papilliferum of the Eyelid

Two patients presented with slowly developing papillated or hyperkeratotic lesions of their lid margins that began early in the fourth decade. Upon excision, these tumors were discovered to be examples of syringocystadenoma papilliferum, a lesion not previously well documented in the ophthalmic literature. By light microscopy, each tumor displayed surface poral openings where the epidermis underwent a transition into duct-like epithelium, which ramified as luminal channels throughout the tumor. Papillae projected into many of the duct-like spaces and were lined by columnar to multilaminar nonkeratinizing epithelium. A plasma cell-rich infiltrate was present in the connective tissue cores of the papillae. Electron microscopy performed on one of the lesions revealed that the channels were true ducts, with the innermost cells displaying microvilli, small numbers of tonofilaments, and apical junctional complexes composed of a zonula occludens and zonular adherens. These findings, coupled with the location of the tumors at the lid margin and the presence of dilated apocrine glands of Moll deep to one of the tumors, support an apocrine origin. The clinical differential diagnosis of syringocystadenoma papilliferum with respect to other more common lid tumors is discussed.

Sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma of the eyelid margin: Unusual presentation of a rare tumor

OBJECTIVE Sclerosing sweat duct carcinoma (SSDC) is a rare, slow-growing, locally invasive skin tumor of eccrine and pilar origin. It is usually located on the face, particularly the upper lip, cheek, and forehead. It has been infrequently reported on the eyelid, secondarily involved from adjacent cheek and brow tumors. Only four previous cases have reported primary eyelid tumors. The authors present four cases of primary eyelid margin involvement, which show the variability in clinical presentations. DESIGN Retrospective case series. The authors present four case studies of lower eyelid margin tumors diagnosed as SSDC. PARTICIPANTS/METHODS The history of this recently recognized neoplasm is discussed in relation to the cases presented and the role of the ophthalmologist and pathologist in such cases. RESULTS Primary SSDC of the eyelid margin is a reportedly rare entity. This particular presentation can occur in all age groups; can mimic benign, acanthotic, or basal cell-like tumors; and is usually misdiagnosed initially. This can lead to a delay in definitive treatment for a tumor that classically presents late in its natural history to health professionals. All eight cases of primary eyelid SSDC now reported in the literature have occurred in the lower lid. CONCLUSION This rare but aggressive tumor is difficult to diagnose from a simple biopsy and may be more common than previously believed. Initial or early diagnosis is important because of unusually invasive characteristics. Recurrence is common and usually leads to extensive tissue loss via direct invasion or subsequent wide resection. Correct histologic diagnosis at the time of initial tumor removal will likely aid in achieving complete excision with fewer recurrences.

Inverted Mucoepidermoid Papillomas of the Epiebulbar Conjunctiva

Juxtalimbal epibulbar inverted papillomas that were locally excised without recurrence developed in two women, aged 42 and 51 at the time of initial presentation. There is only one previous report of this unusual conjunctival neoplasm, which documented involvement of the plical, caruncular, or tarsal conjunctiva. The tumor grew by acanthosis of the surface nonkeratinizing squamous epithelium, with invagination into the underlying connective tissue in the absence of inflammation or a tendency toward keratinization. The initial invaginations may be cystic in character, but solid lobules secondarily originated from their walls to push into the connective tissue. Mucus-producing goblet cells were scattered throughout the lesions; highly distinctive eosinophilic globoid bodies, probably reflecting inspissated mucoid material, were found in the walls of the cysts and entrapped within their secretions. Conjunctival inverted papilloma does not exhibit locally aggressive behavior, does not involve extensive segments of the conjunctival epithelium, and does not display diffuse spread or multicentricity. The authors therefore believe that it should be clearly separated from inverted squamous (Schneiderian) papillomas of the nasal cavity and sinuses.

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia : Collection of four cases and a review of the literature

Summary Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia is a benign tumor that rarely presents in the orbit and ocular adnexa. Generally, it occurs as an isolated eyelid mass, not associated with systemic or local disease. Histopathologically, it can be easily confused with angiosarcoma or Kimuras disease. We present our experience with four cases of this tumor in the ocular adnexa, along with a literature review.

Epibulbar Subconjunctival Fibroma: A Tumor Possibly Arising from Tenon's Capsule

A fibroma, a benign neoplasm arising from the periorbita or tendon sheaths, is described in a 74-year-old woman as an indolent, lobular tumor situated in the episcleral and subconjunctival connective tissues with superior limbal fixation. Because most fibromas arise from tendon sheaths or fascial planes, we speculate that our lesion arose from Tenons capsule. The rarity of periocular fibroma is documented by a review of the modern ophthalmic literature. Histopathologically, the tumor was composed of a paucicellular population of fibroblasts, sometimes displaying hyperchromatic nuclei and widely separated by abundant broad bundles of collagen. Mast cells were infrequently dispersed in the lesion. A wide local excision was performed, and no recurrence has developed during an 18-month follow-up period.

Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma to the eye

Merkel cell carcinoma is an infrequent but highly aggressive cutaneous neoplasm. Previous reports of ocular involvement have included primary eyelid carcinomas, eyelid and orbital metastases, and a clinically diagnosed choroidal metastasis. The authors report the histopathologic documentation of a metastatic lesion to the ciliary body, confirming the intraocular metastatic potential of this tumor.